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EtravirinePronounced"et-ra-VIR-een" Common brand names:Intelence UsesEtravirine is used with other HIV medications to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. This medication is usually prescribed to people who have taken other HIV medications (such as efavirenz, nevirapine, delavirdine) that did not work well enough to control their HIV. Etravirine is known as a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It blocks the virus from growing and infecting more cells. Etravirine is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during sexual activity as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Other UsesThis section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This product may also be used to lessen the risk of HIV infection after contact with the virus (for example, due to a needle stick). Ask your doctor for more details. How to Use This MedicationRead the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start using etravirine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth after a meal as directed by your doctor, usually 2 times daily. Swallow the medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or split the tablets. Children's dosage is based on weight. If you have trouble swallowing this medication whole, you may place your dose in a glass with about 1 teaspoonful (5 milliliters) of water to dissolve the tablet. If needed, add more water to cover the tablet. Stir the mixture well until it looks milky. Use only water to first dissolve the tablet. Then add about 1 tablespoonful (15 milliliters) of water, orange juice, or milk to the glass and drink all of it right away. Rinse the glass with more water, orange juice, or milk and drink all of it. Rinse and drink several times to make sure you have taken the whole dose. You should not mix the drug with warm or carbonated drinks. It is very important to keep taking this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and the risk of serious side effects may be increased. Do not take less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase and/or make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant). For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same times every day. |